Time running out for L&ESG pubs

Tenants of collapsed London & Edinburgh Swallow Group (L&ESG) have been given a little more time to have premises licences transferred to their own names to ensure their pubs remain open.

But hosts have been warned they only have a few days left to submit transfer requests before company administrator Ernst & Young surrenders the licences.

Solicitor John Gaunt, who represents a number of licensees, has urged tenants to contact their local licensing office before the administrator pulls the plug.

Ernst & Young is understood to have waived its original deadline surrender date of Tuesday this week.

Gaunt said: "Time is clearly running out and licensees have to move fast to apply for a transfer - otherwise their pubs will be trading illegally."​

Gaunt said he received dozens of calls from L&ESG tenants on a special telephone hotline launched last week in conjunction with the MA: "Most licensees appeared totally bemused by events of the past few weeks and feel very uncertain about their futures. ​

"We've taken on a few new clients but in most instances it was a case of giving out free TLC," he said.

Many of the 450 tenants have been contacted by their owner-landlord to discuss options following the demise of operator L&ESG, which went into administration last month.

The Morning Advertiser has teamed up with John Gaunt & Parners to set up a 24-hour hotline for L&ESG tenants.

Contact the hotline on 0114 2663400.